Antioxidant Supplements

Antioxidant Supplements

Antioxidant supplements have become a popular buzzword. Depending who you listen to, these compounds are credited with everything from curing cancer to reversing the body clock.

So what are antioxidants? And in what ways (if any) can they help the human body heal and grow stronger?

The theory behind how antioxidants work is easy to understand. However, their efficacy--especially in the form of dietary supplements--is still somewhat controversial.

The human body metabolizes oxygen in order to produce energy, and free radicals are a natural by-product of this metabolic process. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with unpaired or unbalanced electrons. These volatile particles steal electrons from cells and other molecules within the body and can cause cell damage in the process. This cell damage manifests itself as aging and disease.

It is quite normal to have free radicals in the body. However, excessive quantities have the potential to do significant harm. Exposure to excessive sunlight, smoking, pollution, alcohol and radiation are all known to magnify the effects of free radicals and lead to premature aging and/or serious illness.

Free radical damage has far reaching consequences and is though to be related to:

speeding up the aging process;
cardiovascular disease including arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
failing eyesight caused by deterioration in the lenses of the eyes;
diseases such as Parkinson’s and dementia;
cancer, and
arthritis caused by joint inflammation.

Antioxidants are compounds that mop up free radicals and neutralize their impact on cells. Antioxidants are present naturally in the food we eat in varying degrees. Some of the most commonly known antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and beta carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A. There are, however, countless other compounds which function as antioxidants. Some, such as lycopene and anthocyanin, are classified as non-nutrient antioxidants which provide little or no nutritional value but are still valuable for their antioxidant properties.

Doctors discourage taking high-dose antioxidant supplements. When taken in large amounts, some nutrients that are normally antioxidants may have the opposite effect and actually increase oxidation.

Antioxidants may be most effective when derived from a healthy and balanced diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables, fatty fish, nuts, legumes, and various vegetable oils are rich sources of antioxidants.

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